Biscayne National Park
National Park
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
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Create accountDrive Time
1h 1m
Distance
48.9 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Coral Springs, FL
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Spanning 49.4 miles, this direct route from Three Lakes to Coral Springs is a straightforward commute that typically takes about 53 minutes. You will primarily utilize Southwest 120th Street, Florida's Turnpike Toll North, and the Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike to navigate between these two Florida locations. Given the short duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. Budget approximately $8 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick visit, the path is efficient and keeps you within the same region, making it an uncomplicated drive for any schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
24.5 miles from Three Lakes, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 31m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you transition between neighborhoods and the major arterial roads. While the route relies heavily on the Turnpike system, it maintains a technical feel rather than a long, monotonous interstate slog. You will experience a blend of local surface streets followed by higher-speed toll road segments that facilitate your movement across the region. Because the highway share is minimal, stay alert for frequent turns and directional changes. The pace is steady, requiring you to remain engaged with the road layout rather than settling into a long-distance cruise.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
47 ft
Total Descent
43 ft
Highest Point
29 ft
~18.4 mi in
Elevation Range
22 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike and Sawgrass Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 48.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Florida's Turnpike Toll North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward SR 820: Pines Boulevard, Sheridan Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 869 Toll / Sawgrass Expressway toward SR 869 North, I 595 East: Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward SR 834: Sample Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Three Lakes, FL to Coral Springs, FL, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Lauderdale along the way.
Fort Lauderdale
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike | 19.8 mi | 22m |
| Sawgrass Expressway | 12.4 mi | 14m |
| I 75 | 8.9 mi | 9m |
| Express Lanes | 1.9 mi | 1m |
| West Sample Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Southwest 127th Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Southwest 120th Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Three Lakes, FL and Coral Springs, FL.
Start on Southwest 127th Avenue
Turn right onto Southwest 120th Street
Turn left
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight right at fork onto Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit
Merge onto Express Lanes
Take the exit
Merge onto I 75
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 869 Toll
Take the exit
Turn straight onto West Sample Road
Turn sharp right
Keep slight left at fork
Arrive at destination
Since the total drive time is under an hour, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time. However, keep in mind that toll road traffic can fluctuate, so checking local congestion levels before you leave is a smart move. Because there are zero scheduled stops, ensure your tank is ready for the $8 fuel commitment before heading out. Focus on navigating the specific turn-heavy sections near your origin point early in the trip to avoid any confusion. Use the efficiency of the Turnpike to your advantage, but keep your toll payment method handy to ensure a seamless experience throughout the 49.4-mile journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 48.9 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 24.5 miles or 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coral Springs, FL than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Three Lakes, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Three Lakes, FL
This is one driving day of about 48.9 miles and 1h 1m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.5 mi from Three Lakes, FL · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 48.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Three Lakes, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Coral Springs, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Coral Springs, FL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Park
Within sight of Miami, yet worlds away, Biscayne protects a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejeweled coral reefs. Evidence of 10,000 years of human history is here to...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$8.17 one way
$16.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $8.85 | $17.70 |
| premium | $4.90 | $9.43 | $18.85 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.86 | $21.73 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.18
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.13 | $2.35 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.85 | $3.13 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Three Lakes on Monday
Local time
9:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Coral Springs on Monday
Local time
9:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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